Indigenous Health Promotion Specialist, Indigenous Cancer Control
BC Cancer
Vancouver, BC

 

 

Pursuant to Section 42 of the British Columbia Human Rights Code, preference will be given to applicants of Indigenous Ancestry. We invite applicants to self-identify within their cover letter and/or resume. Indigenous applicants are encouraged to reach out to Sanya'k ?ula (Indigenous Recruitment and Employee Experience) for support, advice, and guidance on the PHSA hiring process.

 

 

Reporting to the Manager Indigenous Cancer Control, the Indigenous Health Promotion Specialist works with the Prevention, Screening and Hereditary Cancer Program to support planning, initiation and management of strategies and activities to promote awareness around prevention, screening and hereditary cancer within Indigenous communities. As a BC Cancer representative and a community resource, the Indigenous Health Promotion Specialist works in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders and Indigenous community partners to create and/or organize community activities, resources and tools to promote healthy lifestyle choices amongst Indigenous communities. The Indigenous Health Promotion Specialist advises and educates colleagues, healthcare practitioners and Indigenous community partners on the delivery of health promotion information on prevention, screening and hereditary cancer.

 

 

What you’ll do

• Identify opportunities for evidence-based education, promotion and Indigenous community engagement in prevention, screening and hereditary cancer by conducting ongoing environmental scans, utilizing program data, being aware of emerging issues and areas of greatest need, identifying key leaders and potential opportunities for collaboration with Indigenous communities and other stakeholders, and cultivating partnerships for action.
• Coordinate community engagement and health promotion initiatives in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations through methods such as building and maintaining relationships; being a resource for groups and creating action plans in the areas of prevention, screening and hereditary cancer that fall within BC Cancer mandates and priorities; and representing BC Cancer in partnership alliances.
• Maintain a variety of electronic systems including a database of contacts and organizations to support health promotion and engagement work across communities including under-served populations.
• Facilitate training and education for healthcare practitioners and community engagement partners on delivering health promotion information on prevention, screening and hereditary cancer.
• Implement and coordinate community-based promotion and engagement activities working with internal stakeholders, vendors and community partners. Evaluate activities and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, including supported by significant knowledge of Indigenous-specific mandates, including clear understanding of and commitment to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility.
• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the historic and ongoing impacts of settler colonialism and systemic racism on Indigenous Peoples within social and health contexts. This includes understanding how these factors contribute to current health disparities and barriers to care. Show a clear commitment to identifying, challenging, and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism and all forms of discrimination impacting equity-deserving groups within health care settings. This involves familiarity and understanding Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility recognizing personal biases, institutional barriers, engaging in anti-racism education and training and advocating for systemic change.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments within BC Cancer contexts found in the foundational documents including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study - BC Human Rights Code, BC Anti-racism Act and how they intersect across the health care system.

 

 

What you bring

 

Qualifications

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field plus five (5) years of recent related experience working with Indigenous communities in public health, health promotion, education, community development/capacity building.
• Lived experience with patient population is an asset.

 

 

Core Competencies

• Brings an understanding of the Indigenous specific racism and the broader systemic racism that exists in the colonial health care structure, and has demonstrated initiatives in breaking down barriers and ensuring a safe environment ensuring a sense of belonging to all and informed by Indigenous Cultural Safety.
• Awareness of social, economic, political and historical realities of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (the Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

 

 

You have:

• Demonstrated presentation, facilitation, and collaboration skills that display an ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. 
• Ability to work professionally and with discretion. 
• Ability to interact professionally with a variety of staff as a member of a team, other professionals and the public; ability to maintain and build partnerships through relationship building and networking. 
• Knowledge of issues related to cancer prevention and related health care environment and trends. 
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and work with minimal supervision. 
• Demonstrated ability to use computer related tools including word processing, spreadsheet, database, and internet and presentation software at an advanced level.
• A proven ability to problem-solve and be a creative and proactive thinker. 
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, ability to prioritize work, and be flexible to changing priorities while under various time constraints to meet deadlines. 
• Demonstrates a commitment to beginning and/or continuing their personal learning journey related to Indigenous-specific racism and dismantling systems of oppression, as well as addressing racism more broadly. Shows willingness to articulate and share their learning experiences to contribute to a culture of motivation and inspiration among peers.
• Demonstrates foundational knowledge of the social, economic, and political realities of settler-colonialism and its impacts on Indigenous peoples and equity-deserving groups within social and health contexts. Understands the impact of social determinants of health-on-health outcomes. Shows a commitment to learning about and upholding legislative obligations and provincial commitments outlined in foundational documents such as the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan, Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study, the BC Human Rights Code, Anti-Racism Data Act, and the Distinctions Based Approach.

 

 

What we bring

 

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Being a part of a small team and playing a key role in implementing aspects of BC's first Indigenous Cancer Strategy.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our 2,000+ in-house courses including a range of experience level, profession-specific, or other essential training on Indigenous Cultural Safety; Indigenous-specific anti-racism; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and accessibility, mental health and well-being, and more.
• Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including municipal pension plan, and psychological health & safety programs and holistic wellness resources.
• Annual statutory holidays (13) with generous vacation entitlement and accruement.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

 

 

Job Type: Regular, Full-Time 

Salary Range: $67,861.00 - $97,550.00/Year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

Location: 500 - 686 West Broadway, Vancouver, V5Z 1G1

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.

Hours of Work: Monday - Friday; 0800 – 1600.

Requisition Number: 194826E

 

 

What we do

 

BC Cancer provides comprehensive cancer control for the people of British Columbia.

 

BC Cancer is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

 

 

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Create equity – Be courageous.

 

 

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

 

 

PHSA is committed to anti-racism and equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently excluded groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

 

 

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes ongoing commitments to Indigenous recruitment and employee experience as well as dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya’k̓ula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

 

 

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and exclusion faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and title of BC First Nations and self-determination of all First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities. PHSA is mandated to uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents including the Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.

 

 

 

Attention current employees of PHSA:

 

You must apply via your internal profile at http://internaljobs.phsa.ca.

 

The internal job posting expires on February 17, 2026, and will no longer be accessible. If the internal job posting has expired, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with the six-digit job requisition number and your PHSA employee ID number to be considered as a late internal applicant. Please do not apply for the external job posting.

 

If you have not yet set up an internal profile, please e-mail internaljobshelpu@phsa.ca with your PHSA employee ID number to obtain your temporary password. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, excluding Statutory Holidays and a Help Desk Representative will respond to you with 1-2 business days.

 

If you are not a current employee of PHSA and require assistance with your application, please contact the External Careers team at careers@phsa.ca.